SAT question - neither...nor: singular/plural

Test Preparation
1

<p>I stumbled upon the following sentence correction question in the SparkNotes SAT prep corner:</p>

<p>"After Einstein, neither time-intervals or space-intervals (i.e., distances) is absolute; time and distance depend upon one’s frame of reference."</p>

<p>Obviously, it should read "neither...nor" instead of "neither...or". But I don't get why the singular "is" isn't incorrect here. Shouldn't it read "are"? SparkNotes' explanation is:</p>

<p>"While the “is” in choice C may sound funny coming on the heels of “intervals” and “distances,” it’s actually correct because it matches the “neither . . . nor” construction. As a parallel unit, “neither . . . nor” takes a singular verb."</p>

<p>I'm not a native English-speaker - could anyone explain?
Thanks a lot! :)</p>

2

<p>SparkNotes is incorrect, neither nor should be followed by plural verb if last noun in sequence is plural.</p>

3

<p>^^</p>

<p>I agree with drusba.</p>

<p>For the nuances of placing the subjects in a neither … nor construction, and the applicable subject-verb agreement rules see:</p>

<p>[Subject</a> and Verb Agreement | Grammar Rules](<a href=“http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp]Subject”>Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples and Rules)</p>